ISLAMABAD: Construction of PWD Underpass on the Islamabad Expressway, main artery of the Federal Capital has delayed by more than two months as it was to be completed by July 31.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) through its contractors started construction of PWD Underpass at end of last year, to ease flow of traffic on the Islamabad Expressway. It was planned to open the underpass and bridge over it for traffic by July 31.
Lakhs of motorists, other commuters by public transport and huge rush of trucks who are daily commuting on this important road are facing worst problems including hours-long traffic jams. People travelling from Behria Town, PWD Housing Society, Soan Garden, Behria Enclave, KOrang Town, Jinnah Garden and other adjacent areas are seriously suffering due to dely in completion of the project.
“At the begging of the project last year, it was being expected that the project will not being completed in time as the construction company working on the project is famous for its delay and incompletion of its projects”, said Mohammad Affan, a regular traveler and working with a software company is Blue Area.
He was of the view that it was Coronavirus pandemic that has decreased rush on this road, but even then hours long traffic jams are horrible during these hot days.
It is difficult to complete the construction of the Multi-million project even by end of this month, said a CDA official, adding that 80 per cent work on the project had been completed but rest of work including road work had been delayed due to ongoing rains which hampered activity time and again.
The project would cost Rs432 million generated from CDA’s own sources.
The Authority had approved Rs40 billion development budget various projects to be undertaken in the federal capital. Most of the cost of development works would be met from auction of commercial plots elsewhere in Islamabad.
The main projects to be undertaken during the ongoing fiscal year include low income housing scheme in Farash Town Rawal Chowk signal free corridor, Margalla Avenue, I J Principal, PWD underpass, ladies club and a slaughter house.
Only the last week, the CDA auctioned 24 commercial plots in Blue Area and business center and same would fetch over Rs37 billion which is over 90 per cent of development budget allocated for the fiscal year 2021-22.
The CDA board would give final approval to the highest offers accepted by the auction committee. It may be pointed out here that one of auctioned plots alone received highest offer of Rs8 billion.
Read more: Melody Food Market receive Rs 10m for beautification, development: SDG
